How often do you use the tolls in Dallas? (Plano: how much, home)

[fpsbob]

If I had to drive on them, I'd probably do it in the morning because I have to get there by a certain time, and then just take the longer way back and save some money.

I've read somewhere around $80-125/mo for some commuters. It seems like they do both ways daily.

Has anyone experimented with taking the regular route vs. taking the toll roads?

So far I've taken tolls on the way home to see my family (to the east) and then when I was coming back. I usually left during rush hour and came back during rush hour.

[BigDGeek]

Fortunately I do not have to use tollroads to commute; I live near 75 and my job is in 75231, so I don't need to use them at all unless I'm going somewhere up in Collin County or FND along the DNT.

Even then, I try to stay off them unless it would just take way too long to use surface roads. If I'm going to the Galleria, I use 635. Points north of there, I use the service road. I try to take Preston or Coit to get to Plano when I can. But if I'm going to Frisco...bleh, it pretty much HAS to be the DNT. Luckily I don't go there very often.

I've never used the toll lanes on 635 and refuse to do so.

[TurtleCreek80]

2X daily and through 3 toll plazas. Runs about $80ish/mo.

If I took side streets (Preston Road) vs DNT, it would take about an hour to cover the same distance as my 15-20 minute Tollroad commute. I do it on occasion when DNT is majorly backed up and it's a painfully slow drive with about 25 (?) stoplights. No thanks.

[mami2emily]

Thankfully I do not have to commute using toll roads on a daily basis, but I do have a toll tag on my car because getting on the DNT is convenient. There have been times when I do zip up the tollway one way and use secondary roads on the return trip. The tollway saves a TON of time! On the map the distance won't look very far, but like Turtle Creek says, it's one stoplight after the other.

I also live closer to I-75 so I try to find similar businesses/retail/restaurants off of I-75 to avoid the tollway. But if I have to get to anything west of the tollway it's much easier to hop on the DNT.

If you had to do it every day for work then yes you will have to budget for it because it does add up. There definitely is a time savings. I probably use DNT once or twice a week at most, George Bush Turnpike maybe 1 per month.

[bencronin04]

I live by the tollway but luckily work 2 miles from my house. I have a toll tag and use the tollway to visit family in Plano or to go to our lake house. I used to have to use it from down town Dallas all the way to the Sam Rayburn to Coit twice a day. It got expensive.

[TX75007]

I spent $1900 last year. I use them 2-3x a day. I can recall when 121 was a nightmare and PGBT sat for a decade un built when TXDOT had promised it for years.

[Aceraceae]

Often, how much I don't know.

[fpsbob]

I just checked mine and it's $40 this month after 4 sets of trips, not daily commutes.

Based on what I have in my statements, a typical commute that I would make if I lived in a different part of Dallas is $4 per trip.

If I did it just for the mornings, I'd have about $80/mo like some commuters have noted.

Originally Posted by TX75007

I spent $1900 last year. I use them 2-3x a day. I can recall when 121 was a nightmare and PGBT sat for a decade un built when TXDOT had promised it for years.

Do you expect DNT to be a nightmare while they work on it? What about the PGBT while they do the fourth lane?

[SVTRay]

I don't have to use the Toll roads, so my toll fees range from nothing at all to $40-50 a month.

[mSooner]

PGBT 3-4 days a week, Coppell to 75.

Honestly, I'm used to it. It is what it is.

I have noticed it seems much more backed up going home lately (westbound), especially near the DNT. What's up with that? I used to be able to go 70 the whole way home every day.

My alternative would be 635--and it is longer distance wise. HELL NO.